Home › Aves › Alaudidae › Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus)
Eremopterix
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Grasslands scrub dry fields
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Alaudidae
GENUS
Eremopterix
📋 Description
SIZE
12-14 cm long 15-20 g
COLORATION
Males black with ashy crown females brown
ADAPTATIONS
Strong legs for ground foraging display flights
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Grasslands scrub dry fields
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-3 eggs in ground nests incubated 10-12 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects seeds
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Agricultural intensification habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Ashy Singers: Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Larks sing with 18-gram bodies eating 5 grams of insects daily in Gujarat's grasslands. Males' ashy crowns are distinctive.
2
Display Fliers: These larks cover 2000 sq km in Rajasthan's fields nesting in grass tufts. Pesticides threaten their prey.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Jamnagar in Gujarat
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Dry grasslands ensure visibility for spotting larks
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch ashy-crowned sparrow-larks in display flights over fields
